Summary of Guy Leschziner's The Man Who Tasted Words

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The inability to feel pain is the stuff of superheroes. It is the deepest wish of those who are tortured by it. But Paul s inability to sense pain is not coupled with super-strength, unbreakable bones, or super-healing.#2 Our sense of touch is so integral to our existence that it is almost impossible to imagine a life without it. We describe people as warm or cold, soft or hard, based on their physical sensations.#3 The absence of pain is devastating. It is the loudest of our sensations, and it prevents us from injuring ourselves or making the same mistake twice. It focuses our attention on looking after that part of the body, protecting and immobilizing it so that we can repair and heal before we start using it again.#4 The brain s sensory map is grossly distorted, and the area of the brain that is responsible for our body map is also located in the central depths. This area of the brain is involved in the unpleasantness and fear of pain, and is a potent driver of the need to avoid pain.